How to restart a laptop using the keyboard

When updating the system, reinstalling drivers or software failures, situations occur when the mouse or touchpad of a laptop stops working, and to complete the operation you need to restart the computer. In this case, the only option to perform the necessary actions correctly is to use the keyboard to control the system. For many users, this is unusual, because everyone has long been accustomed to the graphical interfaces of operating systems of the Windows family, and cannot imagine how to work in them without the usual mouse. With the help of our tips, you will easily cope with the task.

How to restart a laptop using a keyboard shortcut

There are two main keyboard shortcuts “Alt+F4” and “Ctrl+Alt+Del”, which work in all operating systems of the Windows family, allowing you to restart the computer using standard shutdown algorithms.

The standard keyboard shortcut “Alt+F4”, which works in any version of Windows operating systems, closes the current window. However, if you only have your desktop open, this shortcut brings up a small window with a list that allows you to restart or shut down your computer. Simply select the item you want using the arrow keys and confirm your selection with the Enter key.

The most popular keyboard shortcut among users, “Ctrl+Alt+Del,” works in a similar way, calling up the Windows task manager. In it, using the “Tab” and arrow keys to navigate, select the reboot item, and confirm the choice by pressing “Enter”. Rebooting using the task manager works in most situations, even when the software crashes (freezes).

The least common reboot option, which works in all versions of operating systems, is to use the command line or management console. To open the command line, press the “Win ​​+ R” key combination, and the “Run” window will appear in the lower left corner. In the input line of this window, enter “cmd” and press the “Enter” key, a command line will open in front of you.

In it, you can control your computer using a set of commands rather than a graphical interface, much like DOS. In the line that appears, enter the command “shutdown /r” and press “Enter”. The computer will reboot in less than one minute, and all unsaved data will not be lost.

Rebooting a computer running Windows 7, 8, 10 from the keyboard

In this section, we will look at commands that work in certain operating systems of the Windows family. The most different from all is Windows 8, this system is more focused on devices with touch screens, in it the “Start” menu familiar to many users has been replaced by a sidebar.

To call it, use the key combination “Win ​​+ C”. Navigation through the panel is carried out using arrows, confirming the selection with the “Enter” key. To reboot, select the Settings item, and there you will already find the necessary option: shutdown or reboot.

ATTENTION! In Windows operating systems that have a Start menu, the easiest and safest way to reboot is by calling up this menu with the Win key. Then, using “Tab” and arrows to navigate, select the reboot item, and confirm the selection by pressing “Enter”.

If you can't restart your laptop using the keyboard

If there is a serious software failure and the laptop does not respond to the keyboard, there are several more drastic ways to solve the problem. The first thing you should do is hold down the power button for a few seconds. This action will lead to a forced abnormal reboot of the system, which may cause loss of information.

In very rare cases, it is not possible to reboot even using the power button. The most radical measure is to completely de-energize the device. To do this, you need to disconnect the laptop from the power supply and disconnect the battery.

Here are the main ways you can restart your laptop without using a mouse or touchpad. We hope that our advice will be useful and you will easily cope with the task.